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Insight on Barbados' Surrounding Enviornment and Climate Activity
What are the Major Environmental Challenges?
The Sea-Level Rising
The Sea-Level Rising
Rising sea-levels around the coasts of Barbados have lead to concerns over erosion increasing. Additionally, damages in relation to tourism infrasturcture, water security, and increased chances of inudation have been noted.
Ocean Acidification
Ocean Acidification
Ocean acidification in the decrease in the pH level of Earth oceans, and as an island nation Barbados is greatly affected. This in unison with Barbados oceanic pollution also cause degradation within coastal reefs.
Reef Degradation
Reef Degradation
Driven by Barbados major market of tourism and additionally affected by its coastal development and pollution, the massive amount of coral loss is detrimental as algae overgrows and overtakes marine habitats.
How are these affecting GDP, Population, Inflation, & Unemployment
GDP ↓
Barbados, as a tourism based economy, depends on its local scenery to attract vacationers worldwide. Sea-levels rising, reef degradation, and ocean acidification are crucial factors to keep in mind due to their adverse effects on local ecosystems. Erosion, and bleaching of coral reefs tend to make the beautiful get-away of Barbados into a less-than-ideal spot for your time off. Thus, tourism declines in Barbados, meaning that outsiders are not spending as much, leading to an overall decrease in consumption of Barbados. Additionally, industries like fishing also decrease due to the increasing uninhabitability of the ocean, which again lowers GDP.
↑ Environmental Pollution → ↑ Erosion → ↓ Tourism → ↓ GDP
Population ↓
Fresh, unpolluted water in necessary for human survival, which becomes scarcer with an increase in pollution within Barbados. Additionally, as sea levels and cause erosion rates to rise, there is an increase in storm surges and cases of inundation. Common houses of the citizens in Barbados have limited resistance to such disasters, leading to higher mortality rates. Higher chances of dying will eventually in the long run decrease population numbers.
↑ Environmental Pollution → ↑ Erosion & Storm Surges → ↑ Mortality Rate → ↓ Population
Inflation ↑
The aforementioned effects on population and GDP are reflected in the increase in inflation within Barbados. This stems from the fact that as an island nation, resources are already scarce, not to mention when there is an increase in usage when trying to repair infrastructural damages from storms and floods. Additionally, resources like freshwater, fish decrease as they become rarer to find in their current environment. Since more people want resources, and their supply is already low, their prices increase. Thus, highlighting supply and demand within Barbados' economy.
↑ Environmental Pollution → ↑ Resource Rarity → ↓ Resource Supply → ↑ Inflation
Unemployment ↑
Similar to GDP, Barbados is a tourism base economy, meaning that the decrease in tourism leads to less people being needed for the industry. Thus unemployment in increased.
↑ Environmental Pollution → ↑ Erosion → ↓ Tourism → ↑ Unemployment
What Actions or Policy Initiatives have been taken to Promote Environmental Resilience or Adaptation?
Roofs to Reefs
Roofs to Reefs
Barbados' ambitious, integrated national strategy to adapt to an uncertain climate future. As the name suggests, it plans to incorporate climate resilience, transforming climate adaptation into economic development by protecting citizens homes and marine biomes alike.
Major parts of the plan include improving water security, improving shelter resilience to withstand extreme weather, and using data-drivn technology to achieve this goal.
Roof to Reefs is a schematic for Barbados' sustainable and climate proof future.
2020 Water Protection and Land Use Zoning Policy
2020 Water Protection and Land Use Zoning Policy
Replacing the outdated 1963 system, The Water Protection & Land Use Policy includes the reworking and incorporation of a new zoning system to protect groundwater from contaminants. This policy stems from the idea that all land will eventually affect coastal reefs, no matter proximity.
Key zones within this new system involve pathogen, chemical, recharge, and non-recharge control to ensure the most vital component Zone A is pure for public supply.
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